Leon Goretzka came off the bench to equalise as Germany snatched a 1-1 draw with Serbia in their international friendly in Wolfsburg, while Ben Woodburn emerged as the hero with Wales warming up for the start of their 2020 European Championship campaign in a 1-0 friendly victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Wrexham.
Germany vs Poland
Joachim Low’s new-look side, who begin their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign against Holland this weekend, needed time to warm up after falling behind to a 12th-minute Luka Jovic header.
It was not until the second half that Germany began to threaten regularly, and Goretzka levelled on 69 minutes after combining with fellow substitute Marco Reus.
Serbia lost their discipline in the closing minutes, and Milan Pavkov was shown a straight red card in stoppage time for a horrendous challenge on Manchester City’s Leroy Sane.
Wales vs Trinidad and Tobago
Woodburn struck from close range as the game ticked into stoppage time, the Liverpool teenager chesting home Will Vaulks’ cross for his second Wales goal.
Manager Ryan Giggs will be grateful for the win – his fourth from his 10 games – as Wales head into a tournament that the former Manchester United star says will define his time in charge.
Trinidad and Tobago are ranked 93rd in the world – 74 places lower than Wales – and the Soca Warriors fielded players from little-known clubs such as Churchill Brothers, Lansing Ignite and Memphis 901.
Giggs selected a shadow side, with the opening Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff only four days away.
Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and David Brooks were among the missing headline acts, and it is quite possible that only captain Ashley Williams of the starting XI in Wrexham will play on Sunday.
On paper, Wales looked like a team that had been cobbled together, and so it showed with misplaced passes the theme of an uneventful first half.
Hedges stood above an average crowd by combining the odd burst down the right flank with offering a goal threat at the far post.
His third-minute cross was met by the head of Tyler Roberts and held under his own crossbar by Marvin Phillip.
The visiting goalkeeper was also well-positioned to deny Hedges and Woodburn, but he was grateful for Thomas’ wayward attempt after Lee Evans had picked him out on the edge of the area.
Woodburn attempted to catch Phillip napping with a free kick directed towards his far post, but the Liverpool striker was slowed by a rash tackle which earned Kevan George a booking close to the interval.
The Soca Warriors’ only effort of note in the first half saw Danny Ward easily gather Khaleem Hyland’s effort from 25 yards, but replacement goalkeeper Adam Davies had more cause for concern and was grateful for Gunter’s goal-line intervention.
Thomas stung Phillip’s palms and saw what would have been his first international goal disallowed, and there appeared no way through for Wales until Woodburn popped up to supply the winner from Vaulks’ excellent cross.
